Seal



y 1- A. P; STILLMAN 5 SEAL Filed March 26, 1927 Patented July 14, 1931 NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALLEN P. STILLMAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ANCERA LOCK & SEAL CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SEAL Application filed March 26, 1927. Serial No. 178,637.

The present invention relates to fastening devices or seals of the type more particularly used on containers to make it possible more readily to detect tampering with the contents thereof, and has for an object to provide an improved device of this character.

The invention has been developed in con nection with the production of a seal for use on bank envelopes such as are used in the transmission of securities and, for convenience, this embodiment of the invention will be described as sufiiciently illustrative of the principles involved. It will be understood however that the invention may be variously applied, changes in the mechanical embodiment being made to suit the requirements of use.

Mail thieves and the like who make a practice of removing from parcels entrusted to their care a part or all of the contents depend for success in concealing their thefts upon their ability quickly to open and reseal parcels and yet leave no evidence that the parcels have been tampered with. A postal employee would find it impossible, without detection, to remove securities from a registered bank envelope and substitute an equivalent weight of other papers unless he could soreseal the parcel that it would not arouse the suspicion of the inspector or 7 other employee to whom he might deliver it. But with practice thieves becomeexpert in opening and rescaling envelopes and the problem of designing a seal that will pre vent the opening of an envelope without conspicuous mutilation of the seal or of the envelope or which will make easy the detection. of an envelope that has been opened and rescaled presents many difliculties. The difficulty of the problem is increased by the fact that the seal must necessarily be relatively inexpensive and must be so constructed that it can be quickly and easily sealed by clerks having little mechanical skill.

The present invention provides a seal which in the preferred form is so constructed that after its parts have been connected it is practically impossible under the conditions of use to disconnect these parts with out mutilating one orboth of them to such an extent as to leave obvious traces of the separation. The seal is also so constructed that it is practically impossible to detach 5.

one of the cooperating parts from an envelope or the like to which it has been applied and again attach it without seriously mutilating the paper or the fastener.

This invention is an improvement upon the type of seal disclosed in the application of Fred. G. Street, Serial Number 117,680, filed June 22nd, 1926, the improvement relating largely to the tongue guiding means and the interengaging elements.

The nature and object of the invention will be better understood by reference to the description of a particular illustrative embodiment thereof for the purpose of which description reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which Figure 1 is a view of the back of an en velope having applied theretotwo seals constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view showing the two parts of the seal disconnected but in position to be engaged.

Figure 3 is a central sectional view taken ccntrallyof Fig. 2 on the line 33 thereof.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the parts connected.

Figure 5 is a central sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4;.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line G-6 of Figure 7.

Figure 7 is a detail view showing the male and female members in connected relation but with one portion of the female member removed in order more clearly to show the details of the structure, and

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a viewof the unfolded blank, the lines of fold being indicated by dotted lines. o

In the arrangement to be described for the. purpose of illustrating the invention, the

closure flap 5 of an envelope 6 is'secured in closed relation by two similar fastener devices or seals 7. The envelope is so formed and the fastening devices are so arranged thereon that each possible opening of the envelope is controlled by one or more seals. As shown, each seal consists of cooperating male and female members v8, 9 attachable respectively to the flap and body of the envelope and so constructed that when once they have been connected to each other the engagement becomes permanent to effectively resist any effort to separate them. The side wings 10 of the envelope are of such a length and so positioned relative to the end flap 11 that a wing and the flap are secured together by a female member of the fastening device.

In the particular construction shown, the female member 9 consists of a blank, which may be stamped from sheet metal, folded to form a casing to receive the tongue 12 of the male member 8. One end portion 13 of the blank of the female member is folded in and back upon the central portion or body of the blank, but in slightly spaced relation thereto, and its extreme end is shaped to provide a retaining element 14. A slot 13 is provided for the insertion of the male member. This folded end portion is spaced sufiiciently from the central or body portion of the blank conveniently to receive the tongue 12 of the male member, the extreme end of the retaining element being bent sufficiently inwardly toward'the body of the blank to insure engagement with the cooperating hook 15 formed on the tongue of the male member and projecting from one face thereof. The retaining element 14 is preferably yieldable so as to have a sufficient spring action to facilitate the insertion of the tongue and engagement of the retaining element and the hook. The hook is preferably formed somewhat in the shape of a hood and the projecting spring retaining element 14 is preferably slightly narrower than the said hood so as to be engageable into the hood thereby to prevent the separation of said hook and retaining element by means of any small instrument pushed through the end wall of the female member against which the end of the tongue abuts when the tongue is thrust into its innermost position as indicated in Figure 7. It will be clear from a consideration of Figure 7 that such an instrument pushed through the end wall would engage the hook 15 and be deflected away from the retaining element 14 and if the element 14 is of substantially the same width as the hook or narrower than the hook, this method of opening the fastener would fail. It is for this reason that the infolded end of the blank is cut as indicated at 16 in Figure 7 to provide a relatively narrow retaining element 14.

As further protection against disconnecting of the retaining element 14 and the hook 15, the aforesaid infolded end portion of the blank is formed to provide side retaining or confining walls 18 which are spaced slightly further apart than the width of the tongue 12. This arrangement provides guides for said tongue and also prevents access thereto by a disconnecting tool when the fastening device is connected. The other end 20 of the blank is also folded inwardly and back upon the body of the blank but outside of the first mentioned infolded end 12, as best shown in Figure 3. It is not necessary that this end 20 should be shaped to conform to the folded shape of the end 13 as shown in Figure 6, and the fastener, as a whole, will perhaps fit more satisfactorily against the envelope to which it is attached if this end is not distorted but is left to provide a flat bearing surface against the envelope. It should be borne in mind that the thickness of the blank, as shown in the various views in the drawings, is exaggerated for clearness and consequently the device, as a whole, has the appearance of being thicker and more clumsy than it in fact is.

In order to prevent the insertion of a tool alongside of the tongue 12 to disengage the retaining member 14 and hook 15, the first mentioned inturned end 13 of the female member is provided with projections 22 which are suitably spaced to permit the passage between them of the hook 15 as the tongue 12 is inserted. To cooperate with these projections to prevent the insertion of a tool there is also provided a projection 23 formed on the tongue 12 which projection is of such a width as to readily pass between the projections 22 as the tongue is inserted. Still another projection 24 is struck up from the tongue, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3, this Projection being of such dimensions as to entirely fill the entry slot 13 provided in the female member for insertion of the tongue. The arrangement of the projections 23, 24 on the tongue and the cooperating projections 22 on the female member is such as to leave no sufficient space for the insertion of a tool alongside of the tongue to disengage the hook 15 and retaining member 14, as will be clear from consideration of Figure 5, The staggered arrangement of the projections 22, 23 and 24 also contributes to the protection afforded. If itwere possible to insert an extremely thin flat tool into the female member along the outer face of the tongue 12, still such a tool as could be inserted could not be operated in this position to disconnect the parts.

The female member is in practice made by working the blank between a series of pairs of dies which cause the necessary scoring and bcndings of the several parts.

The central. body portion may be drawn between dies to form a box-like casing with a main fiat face and a continuous surrounding flange or side wall, thereby allowing no bending at the corners to permit the insertion of a tool for disconnecting the parts. This side wall is cut as indicated at 13 in Figures 2 and 3 to provide the slot or aperture for the insertion of the tongue of the male member.

The infolded ends 13 and 20 of the blank are secured in place against the central body portion by suitable inturned parts at the side edges which parts serve to complete the closure in a manner to prevent the insertion of disconnecting tools at the side edges. In the structure shown, the side portions are cut to form projections 25, 26, 27 which, when folded inwardly, hold the aforesaid ends in position. The central projections 26 are folded into clamping position in the dies during the process of making the female member but the parts 25 and 27 are formed as prongs for securing the fastener to the envelope and which are not, in fact, folded into clamping position until the fastener is applied to the envelope so that these prongs serve the double function of securing the device to the envelope and clamping the parts of the fastener together. Additional prongs 28 are preferably formed along the edge to serve as additional means to secure the fastener to the envelope.-

The male member is preferably dished as indicated in Figure 2 and formed to be secured to the envelope flap by means of prongs 80, the points of which fold more or less into the dish portion to make more difficult removal from the paper.

All lines of folding of the blank and especially the lines of folding of the prongs are so scored that, in the event of bending in the course of tampering with the fastener, the parts would be broken and severed. The female member ,is also scored along lines adjacent the inserted tongue as indicated at 32, in order that, if any attempt is made to distort the wall of the female member at this point, it will tear leaving clear evidence of the tampering.

The description of the particular embodiment of the invention is illustrative merely and is not intended as defining the limits of the invention.

I claim:-

1. A seal of the character described comprising interengageable male and female members, the male member having a tongue insertable in the female member with a retaining hook thereon, the female member comprising a sheet metal blank having a :entral body portion, an end portion folded back upon the central body portion and formed to provide a slot adjacent one edge of the body portion and at its free end a central retaining catch engageable with the look of the male member and on either side a lateral confining wall, a second end portion also folded back upon the central body portion and over-lying the first mentioned'end portion, and side portions cooperating with the central body portion and both end portions to completely enclose the tongue and retaining catch to prevent access to disengagethe catch and hook.

2. A seal of the character described comprising interengageable male and female members, the male member having a tongue insertable in the female member with a re taining hook thereon, the female member comprising a sheet metal blank having a central body portion drawn to dish shape with a continuous surrounding edge wall, an end portion folded back upon the central body portion and formed to provide at its free end a central retaining catch engageable with said retaining hook and at either side-alateral confining wall arranged to serve as a guide for said tongue, a second end portion also folded'back upon the central body portion and over-lying the first mentioned end portion, and side portions projecting from saidcentral body portion and over-lying and confining the end portions whereby the interengaging-tongue and retaining catch are completely enclosed to prevent access thereto for disengaging said hook and retaining catch.

8. A seal of the character described comprising interengageable male and female members, the male member having a tongue insertable in the female member with a retaining hook projecting from one facethereof, the female member comprising a sheet metal blank folded to provide a casing and having one end portion thereof formed to provide a retaining catch, said hook being of hood shape and said catch being narrower than said hook to prevent disengagement of said catch and hook by a tool inserted past the hook.

4. A seal of the character described comprising interengageable male and female members, the male member having a tongue insertable in the female member with a retainingv hook projecting from one face thereof, the female member comprising a sheet metal blank folded to provide an enclosing casing, and a catch, and having an aperture and'a passageway approximately the same.

width as said aperture for the insertion of and closely confining the side edges of said tongue, said passageway having projections taking into said passageway between which the hook passes as the tongue is inserted, said tongue having projections which when the.

male and female members are in interengaged relation cooperate with the projections of the female member in staggered relation to prevent insertion of a tool in said female member beside said tongue to disengage said catch and hook.

5. A seal of the character described comprising interengageable male and femalemembers, the male member having a tongue insertable in the female member with a retaining hook projecting from one face thereof, the female member comprising a sheet metal blank folded to provide an enclosing casing and a catch, and having an aperture and a passageway approximately the same width as said aperture for the insertion of and closely'confining the side edges of said tongue, said tongue being provided with a projection on the same side as the hook formed and arranged to close the aperture in the female member to prevent insertion of a tool beside the tongue.

6. A seal of the'character described,=comprising in combination, interengageable male and female members, the male member being provided with a tongue :insertible in the female member and having a retaining hook thereon, the female member comprising a sheet metal blank having a "body portion comprising a :front wall, a back wall com posed of-material folded back from the front wall, the material being slitted and bent to form a slot atone end for the insertion of said tongue, the material 'o'f-one of said walls being pressed out to form a passageway intermediate the side edges of the female member for narrowly confining the sides of said tongue, the material of the front and back walls at the sides of said passageway being disposed substantially face to face, and a catch provided on said female member extending toward the open space of said passageway for engaging the hook of said tongue.

7. A seal as set forth 'in-claim 6 in which said male member is provided with lateral shoulders wider than the tongue and its passageway for closing the side edges of said slot opening into said passageway.

8. A seal as set forth in claim 6 in which said male member is provided with a transverse projection extending from one face thereof which is substantially the width of and which closes said slot opening into said passageway.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 11th 'day of March, 1927.

- ALLEN P. STILLM-AN. 

